Mercedes CLK W208 Headlight wiring

[tang0788]

Hi all

I hope someone can assist me on a problem I have.

My CLK55 AMG has original xenon headlights installed, but it looks like one of the previous owners has messed around with the wiring that plugs into the back of the light, there are wires and black tape all sorts behing the lights and my local garage ( merc specialist ) advised to buy new headlights ( ebay have a few right now ) and they will sort it out.

Currently one of the side lights have gone and when I took out the bulb some wires also came out that were held together with black tape ! ( which is why I want to just start afresh and install new lights and have the wiring done )

But the lights on Ebay do not have the wires that come with it, so I am thinking if I really do need new lights if there is nothing wrong with them at the moment and it is just the wiring ...

Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to resolve the issue.

I dont want to buy new lights and then find out all it required was new wiring, also can I buy the wiring from anywhere or do I have to go Merc Parts Direct ? Also how can I find the part number ...

Any assistance from you guys will help me, I have a service due, MOT and this will cost me in the region of £500 - then add on the lights will be another £200 minimum, then labour on re doing the wires ...

I can leave it to the garage to sort out but I dont want to spend more than I need to

Please help !

 

[tang0788]

Can anyone help ?

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Not being that familiar with the CLK, but from what you describe by the wiring for the sidelight "coming out" with the bulb doesnt sound good.
I would expect on the CLK that you would have one multiplug on the cars wiring loom which plugs into the headlight assembly for the side/dipped/main beam supply and another plug car side for the xenon levelling motor, check these are intact and undamaged initially.
If the wiring is damaged inside the headlight, this won,t be available from MB, though you could source the wiring from normal CLK (non-xenon) headlight provided that the damaged wiring is limited to the side light and main beam, the xenon part if damaged could be replaced new i believe. Might be a bit fiddly to do these repairs but as long as the headlights are structrally in good nic i certainly would,nt spending £500 on another set.
Personnally would not use any sort of crimp to repair the wiring, but would solder them with solder sleeves or just straight solder joints with heat shrink as insulation over the lap joint.
Makes me wonder how/why they got damaged in the first place though.

 

[tang0788]

Hi,
Not being that familiar with the CLK, but from what you describe by the wiring for the sidelight "coming out" with the bulb doesnt sound good.
I would expect on the CLK that you would have one multiplug on the cars wiring loom which plugs into the headlight assembly for the side/dipped/main beam supply and another plug car side for the xenon levelling motor, check these are intact and undamaged initially.
If the wiring is damaged inside the headlight, this won,t be available from MB, though you could source the wiring from normal CLK (non-xenon) headlight provided that the damaged wiring is limited to the side light and main beam, the xenon part if damaged could be replaced new i believe. Might be a bit fiddly to do these repairs but as long as the headlights are structrally in good nic i certainly would,nt spending £500 on another set.
Personnally would not use any sort of crimp to repair the wiring, but would solder them with solder sleeves or just straight solder joints with heat shrink as insulation over the lap joint.
Makes me wonder how/why they got damaged in the first place though.

Thanks mate, I am going to have to give the car in to my local garage to go through the wiring and check how bad / serious it is - will have to just lump the £75 per hour charge and hope they can find and solve the issue within a few hours.

It is strange how it is damaged !

Hope I can get it sorted for minimal costs

 

[television]

Do you know a TV service guy,,, they are good with wires and do not charge the high labour rates

 

[tang0788]

I took it to my local today - looks like some silly person has tried to wire daylight running fog lights previously and burnt a few of the wires

luckily i got the light working to how they need to - well the fronts anyway , but rear fog lights stay on from when you switch on side lights

for now - quick fix 30 quid

but needs to go back soon to go through all wires etc

definitely don't need new lights !
glad because damn they are expensice to buy !